Forthcoming Meetings

IWNHAS meeting

Welcome to our Autumn/Winter programme – September 2017 to March 2018

All members are very welcome to join any Section meeting. If you wish to become a regular participant in any Section, please give your name and contact details to the Section Leader, who could then inform you of any activities which do not appear in the published programme. In the event of bad weather, please check with the Section Leader before setting out. See your printed programme for section leaders’ names and telephone numbers.

Visitors are welcome to attend up to 2 meetings in a year and are requested to introduce themselves to the leader at the start of the meeting. We hope that this will encourage them to join us. There may be a few meetings that have to be restricted to members only, for various reasons. This will be indicated in the programme.

Health & Safety advice:

On outdoor activities, please wear stout waterproof footwear.

Anyone participating in any event in this Programme does so at his/her own risk.

Please sign the fire register on arrival at indoor meetings.

Important Announcements

PLEASE CHECK THIS WEBSITE before attending any meeting listed in the printed programme, as meetings may have to be cancelled or postponed, due to bad weather, illness or other unforeseen circumstances. Section Leaders will do their best to update the website, but in the event of a severe weather forecast, widespread flooding, etc., you are also advised to telephone the Leader of each meeting on the day, before you set out, to find out whether the meeting is to be held, postponed or cancelled.

AUGUST

Botany

Rare plant monitoring – Dates to be arranged. The Botany group monitors the populations of various rare plants, and the dates selected for these visits depends on the season. If you would like to help, please register your interest with Anne Marston (Tel: 527857)

Looking at the Countryside

Wednesday 2 August at 10.00 hrs

St Lawrence – Park in Hunts Rd, St Lawrence and meet at Hejira (Dave & Hazel’s home) for a walk around the Undercliff, the village and Pelham Woods, returning along the new walkway. Some steep steps. Packed lunch recommended. About 3 miles. Leaders: Dave & Hazel Trevan (Tel: 853927)

Entomology

Saturday 5 August at 10:30 hrs

Isle of Wight Crematorium – Meet in the car park, or parking is available in the lane leading to the site. Please note the different meeting start time, to avoid circus traffic in the afternoon! (SZ525916) Leader: Richard Smout (Tel: 527477)

Archaeology

Saturday 19 August at 14.00 hrs

Ornithology

Sunday 20 August at 09.30 hrs

Brading Marsh – Meet in Laundry Lane, an unmade road (SZ622884) for a walk along the old railway line and in the area. There should be some birds on migration and opportunistic raptors. Leader: Debbie Hart (Tel: 563553)

SEPTEMBER 2017

GEOLOGY

Clay Project

The next step is going to be collecting clays from the north coast of the Island. Will members involved in this project save any sealable plastic containers they have, e.g. bird-seed or ‘fat-ball’ tubs. We will use these to store different clays in. The next collecting trips will be planned for the end of summer, possibly at Priory Bay and Fort Victoria. Details will be made available via the website or email.

Wolverton Manor Garden Fair

Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 September 10.00 to 17.00 hrs

Shorwell – Our Society will be having a stand, as usual, at this popular event. Please come and say hello to our volunteers and bring family and friends to find out about our activities.

Entomology

Tuesday 5 September at 14.00 hrs (later start than usual)

Shalfleet Churchyard – A meeting to see if we can find the Box Bug which has been observed here recently, and which until comparatively recently was confined to Box Hill Surrey. We will also look at the field adjacent to the village hall. Meet by the entrance to the churchyard from the Newport – Yarmouth road. Parking should be available at the village hall accessible by the one-way lane running east and then south of the churchyard. Alternatively use the parking area in the verge or the car park in Mill Lane. Please contact the Leader at the start of the month to check arrangements in case of funerals or weddings. (SZ414893). Leader: Richard Smout (Tel: 527477 eves).

Botany

Saturday 9 September at 14.00 hrs

Mount Joy Cemetery – A meeting to record the autumn chalk grassland flora of the cemetery. Please bring identification book, pencil and hand lens if you have one. Meet in the lay by opposite Carisbrooke Priory at SZ489875 and we will walk to the cemetery along Nunnery Lane

Archaeology

Saturday 16 September at 14.00 hrs

Early Churches of the Wight – This meeting cancelled

Ornithology

Saturday 23 September at 09.30 hrs

Botany

Saturday 23 September at 14.00 hrs

Bouldnor Forest – Our annual meeting to look for galls and leaf miners on the Wildlife Trust site at Bouldnor, under the guidance of Dr David Biggs. No experience needed, just sharp eyes and curiosity. Enter from Yarmouth Rd at SZ379896; follow track to car parking at SZ379900

Fungi

Sunday 24 September at 10.00 hrs

Borthwood Copse – Meet in the small car park off Alverstone Road, just north of the junction with Forest Road (SZ566843). Rich National Trust woodland. Leader: Jackie Hart (Tel: 612677).

General

Saturday 30 September 10.00 to 16.00 hrs

Annual Fungus Foray at Parkhurst Forest Turn off Forest Road for main car park at SZ479900. Alan Outen, our fungal expert from Bedfordshire, and members of the Hampshire Fungus Recording Group will be joining us. All welcome.

Archaeology

Saturday 30 September at 14.00 hrs

St Lawrence Village Hall. An introduction to the British Bronze Age. In October, we will be running various workshops that you might want to take part in over the weekend of the 7th and 8th October and you will have a chance to sign up at this meeting. Delian Backhouse Fry

Archaeology

Weekend of Saturday 7 October and Sunday 8 October

By kind invitation of Joy Verrinder, we will be based at Bamfurlong at Chine Lane for two days doing an exciting programme of weapon and jewellery making as well as making Bronze Age pots and experimenting with Bronze Age weaving and spinning techniques. This will be a collaborative event so lots to do and plenty to take part in.
This wonderful weekend will start on Saturday morning with a series of workshops held by Neil Burridge, from Cornwall, who some of you will remember, held a sword making event at Yafford in the past. On Sunday, we will be making axes and other amazing artefacts. On Saturday evening, we are planning a Bronze Age feast and perhaps some entertainment. Details will be posted on the website as soon as we get the full programme sorted out.

Entomology

Friday 13 October at 19.30 hrs (later start than usual)

Haseley Manor – moth-trapping as part of the National Moth Night. Meet at car-park, through metal gates, on the right hand side of the approach lane (SZ546857). Leader: Richard Smout (Tel: 527477 eves).

Fungi

Saturday 14 October at 10.00 hrs

Dickson’s Copse Meet at the Medina Valley Centre, Dodnor Lane, Newport (SZ503909) for a walk along the cycleway into Dickson’s Copse. The morning will be followed by a meeting of the Microscope Section at the Centre looking at fungi. Bring a packed lunch if you’re staying all day. Leader: Colin Pope (Tel: 611591).

Microscopica

Saturday 14 October 14.00 to 16.00 hrs

Medina Valley Centre, Dodnor Lane, Newport (SZ503909). A talk by Colin Pope on the application of the microscope to the study of fungi. After refreshments, a ‘hands-on’ session where Colin Pope, David Biggs and Paul Bingham will demonstrate features of the microscope of fungi. Leader: Paul Bingham  526049

Ornithology

Sunday 15 October at 09.30 hrs

Culver – meet at the far eastern end car park on Culver Down (SZ636856) for a walk in the area. There should be some birds on migration. Leader: Debbie Hart (Tel: 563553).

Fungi

Saturday 28 October at 10.00 hrs

Westbrook Centre, Seaview. Westbrook Centre (Urban Saints) is off Oakhill Road just above Seaview Duver. The entrance is near the top of Oakhill Road at SZ616914. Drive down the drive and park in the carpark on the left. We will all need to sign in at reception first. Leader: Colin Pope (Tel: 611591).

NOVEMBER 2017

Fungi

Sunday 5 November at 10.00 hrs

Wydcombe Estate, Whitwell, courtesy of National Trust. Enter the Wydcombe estate from the Rookley to Niton road at SZ511788, just south of Southford Lane junction and drive across estate towards Wydcombe Manor. Turn right and park behind the National Trust buildings in the yard at SZ506785. Please share vehicles if possible as there is limited parking. A return visit this year where we hope that damper conditions may allow us to find some of the rarer species recorded from here. Leader: Colin Pope (Tel: 611591).

General

Saturday 11 November at 14.00 hrs

The England Coast Path – an illustrated talk by John Taylor of Natural England about the creation of a coastal footpath around the entire coastline of England, including the Isle of Wight. Venue: Arreton Community Hall

Looking at the Countryside

Tuesday 14 November at 10.15 hrs

Shorwell. Meet at Parish Hall Russell Rd SZ458828 for Part 4 of Alan Phillips walks around Shorwell. A walk across fields to Atherfield, mainly flat, may be muddy in places. Leader: Alan Phillips (Tel: 741375).

Archaeology

Saturday 18 November at 14.00 hrs

St Lawrence Village Hall. The Bronze Age building era on the Isle of Wight e.g Gallibury Hump. David Tomalin

Fungi

Saturday 25 November at 10.00 hrs

Firestone Copse. Meet in the main car park off Firestone Copse Road (SZ 558 991). This is one of our richest woods for fungi. Leader: Jackie Hart (Tel: 612677).

Ornithology

Sunday 26 November at 09.30 hrs

St Helens – meet near the letter box by Selwyn Court in Latimer Road (you should be able to park in the road) (SZ630888). We will be walking in the vicinity of Bembridge Harbour. We should see waders, ducks and gulls. Leader: Anthea Blackwell (Tel: 873694).

DECEMBER 2017

Looking at the Countryside

Friday 1 December at 10.00 hrs

Niton. Park in roads and meet at White Lion pub SZ508768 for a walk across the fields to the Cripple Path and back along the Undercliff Road – passing the Compass Tree to the Buddle Inn for soup and a roll and quiz. Booking essential. Could be muddy if wet, some steep steps. 4 miles For those wishing to come along for the lunch and quiz only, the Buddle Inn opens at 12.00pm. Leader: Mary Edmunds (Tel: 532055).

Fungi

Sunday 3 December at 10.00 hrs

Northwood Cemetery, West Cowes. Meet at the entrance to the cemetery in Park Road (SZ49459485) Park safely on nearby roads. This cemetery is generally good for waxcaps and other grassland fungi late in the season. Leader: Colin Pope (Tel: 611591).

General

Saturday 9 December at 14.00 hrs

Christmas/Solstice Party – an afternoon of group quizzes, games and country dancing. Please bring a contribution for the buffet: such as sandwiches, quiche, cakes, biscuits, crisps, dips, salad, fruit. Master of Ceremonies: Paul Bingham. Venue: Arreton Community Hall

Ornithology

Sunday 10 December at 09.30 hrs

Yarmouth – meet at the beginning of the cycle path in Thorley Road (SZ363895) for a walk in the area. We should see ducks, geese, gulls and waders. Leader: Sue Blackwell (Tel: 529125).

JANUARY 2018

Botany

1-4 January

New Year Plant Hunt

In the last few years, British and Irish plant-hunters have been encouraged to get out over the holiday in their local area and record which wild or naturalised plants are in flower over New Year. The survey is a three-hour period between 1 and 4 January – it doesn’t have to be New Year’s Day, so choose your own location and time or watch the IWNHAS website for details of the botany group combined expedition nearer the time.

Ornithology

Saturday 13 January at 09.30 hrs

Shalfleet – Meet at the car park in Mill Road (SZ414895) for a walk to the Quay. We should see waders, ducks, geese and finches. Leader: Toni Goodley (Tel: 564594).

General

Saturday 13 January at 14.00 hrs

Dinosaur Footprints at Yaverland – an illustrated talk by Trevor Price of Dinosaur Isle Museum about the exciting discovery and identification of footprints beneath the sand. Venue: Arreton Community Hall

Looking at the Countryside

Tuesday 16 January at 10.15 hrs

Botany

Saturday 20 January at 13.30 hrs

Our annual indoor meeting to review last year’s finds and monitoring projects and to look at plans for the coming recording season. Please bring photographs, pressed specimens of unusual plants for the exhibition during the tea interval. If you would like to give a brief presentation to the group please contact Anne Marston by 9th January. Meet at Medina Valley Centre, Dodnor Lane, Newport SZ503909

Archaeology

Saturday 27 January at 14.00 hrs

St Lawrence Village Hall. A new look at Icelandic and Canadian discoveries, about where and how far the Viking went in their explorations of the Artic regions. Delian Backhouse Fry

FEBRUARY 2018

Recorders’ Conference

Saturday 3 February at 14.00 – 16.30 hrs

This popular meeting held at Arreton Community Centre SZ541861 is open to all with an interest in recording on the Isle of Wight. There will be an opportunity to catch up with fellow enthusiasts over tea and cake during the interval. Parking at the hall, and if this is full, there is additional parking at the primary school opposite. Programme will be on the website nearer the time.

Looking at the Countryside

Friday 9 February 10.00 hrs

Yarmouth – Meet at Car Park (Charges apply) SZ354898 A four mile circular walk through woodland, wetlands and wonderful landscape looking at the natural and cultural heritage of the River Yar estuary. The Freshwater causeway to Yarmouth section can be muddy. Please wear suitable footwear and bring binoculars for a spot of birdwatching on the way. Leader: Richard Grogan (Tel: 823855).

General

Saturday 10 February at 14.00 hrs

Balloon Debate –Who has made the greatest contribution to conservation, archaeology and geology in the course of the Island’s history? If only one person could be saved for posterity, who would you vote for? Speakers will make the case for a range of candidates from the past, and invite you to decide who should be chosen. An informative and entertaining afternoon. Venue: Arreton Community Hall

Botany

Sunday 11 February at 10.00 hours

Wood Calamint lay by clearance – Come and enjoy good company while assisting with the conservation of one of the Island’s specialities. Gardening gloves and hand tools would be useful. Meet along Rowridge Lane; further details at January meeting or phone Anne Marston nearer the time. Parking is limited so please arrange to share vehicles if possible.

Archaeology

Saturday 17 February at 14.00 hrs

St Lawrence Village Hall. A follow up on the Bronze Age collapse and the re birth of the Iron Age population on the Isle of Wight. Britain reconnects with Europe and the Celts? Life before the Romans arrive here. Trade and tribulation? Delian Backhouse Fry

Ornithology

Sunday 18 February at 09.30 hrs

Shepherd’s Chine –Park on the verge by the chine (SZ450799) for a walk in the area. There should be flocks of finches and other farmland birds. Leader: Jackie Hart (Tel: 612677).

Geology

Saturday 24 February at 10.00 hrs

Geology walk down Shepherd’s Chine and on to Atherfield Point to look at the effects of coastal erosion and the type of fossils to be found on the shoreline. (Possibly some tails of shipwrecks as well).
The meeting point will be on the western side of the Military Road (A3055) where the footpath leads down Shepherd’s Chine. Car drivers should park off the road as considerately as possible close to the Chine (preferably between approximately SZ 450800 and SZ451799). Leaders Steve Hutt and Trevor Price.

Ornithology

Saturday 10 March at 09.30 hrs

Newtown – Meet at the National Trust visitor centre car park (SZ424905) for a walk in the area. We should see gulls, waders, ducks and geese. Leader: Nicky Falconar (Jackie Hart Tel: 612677)

General

Saturday 10 March at 14.00 hrs

Binoculars: a talk by Richard Flux about the history and development of the technology of this essential tool for natural history enthusiasts. Venue: Arreton Community Hall

Archaeology

Saturday 17 March at 14.00 hrs

St Lawrence Village Hall. After the Romans. Jutes and Saxons, political power or pawns? Kings and Bishops. The early Christian church on the Isle of Wight. Delian Backhouse Fry

IWNHAS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Saturday 24 March at 13.45 for 14.00 hrs

All our members are invited to attend the AGM to hear about the Society’s activities and finances during the past year and to vote for our officers and committees. We look forward to meeting you and having a chat, and we will try to answer any questions. Contributions of sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, crisps, nuts, fruit etc for the buffet tea would be much appreciated. Venue: Arreton Community Centre (SZ541861)